Clamping device



Aug. 30, 1949. A, E. MCELROY y CLAMPING DEVICE Filed March 5l, 1944ffii/'rg maae E@ 11 aj W/TNCSS Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATESYPATNT OFFICE CLAMPING DEVICE Archie Edgar McElroy, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 31, 194.4, Serial No. 528,925

' 2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to a clamping device and is directed particularlyto a clamp of the type in which a exible securing band of metal or othersuitable material extends around the article to be clamped and istensioned or tightened by means of a tensioning device to which theopposite ends of the band are fastened.

The improvement has for one of its principal objects the provision of atensioning device which is so constructed that the ends oi' the flexiblesecuring band may be easily and quickly attached thereto. Another objectof the invention is the provision, in such a tensioning device, of pawland ratchet mechanism which is so constructed that the pawl may beeasily and positively manipulated into engagement with ratchet teeth onthe band tightening pin. A further object is the provision, in such atensioning device, of a pawl and ratchet structure which is so designedthat the pawl may not be accidentally disengaged from the ratchet teethon the tightening pin when the device is in use. It is another object ofthe invention to provide a clamping device which is so constructed thatthe securing band employed therewith may be tensioned to any desiredextent without danger of the tension being accidentally reduced when thedevice is in use. A further object of the invention is the provision, insuch a tensioning device, of a tightening pin having ratchet teeththereon which not only cooperate with holding pawls to retain thesecuring band under tension but serve as means to limit endwise movementof the tightening pin. A still further object of the invention is theprovision, in such a tightening device, of a pawl which is so designedas to be positively held in cooperative engagement with the ratchetteeth when the securing band is under tension. Other objects andadvantages of the improvement will be apparent from the followingdescription taken with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a form of the clamping devicedesigned for use as a hose clamp;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the tensioning device shown in Figs. 1 and 2,with the securing band omitted;

Fig 4 is a sectional view through the tensioning device, taken on theline 4-4 of Fig, 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modifiedform of tensioning device, and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the modified form of device shown in Fig. 5,with the securing band omitted.

While the present clamping device may be employed for other purposes andmay be utilized for clamping or securing other articles, it is disclosedherein in a form which is particularly adapted as a hose clamp, that is,as means for securing the end of a hose or other iiexible tubular memberupon a rigid connector or coupling inserted therein. As shown in thedrawing, a flexible securing band il! of sheet metal or other suitablematerial is designed to extend around the hose with its opposite endsattached to the tensioning device proper to which the improvement isparticularly directed. The tensioning device comprises a connectingmember having a pair of side plates I I, a cross bar or band attachingplate l2 integral with the side plates and eX- tending between opposingedges thereof near one end of the device, and a tightening pin I3 spacedfrom the cross bar I2 and rotatably supported in the side plates. Theside plates II and cross bar I2 are preferably formed by a punchingoperation.

The tightening pin I3 is constructed to fit snugly but rotatably inaligned openings I4 in the'side plates, and is provided with two sets ofratchetteeth I5, one set being located on each end of the pin outside ofthe adjacent side plate. The teeth on the opposite ends of the pin arepreferably in alignment in order to effect a more delicate adjustment ofthe tension in the band I0. The ratchet teeth I5 are preferably formedby a stamping or milling operation so that their sharp extremities I6project outwardly from the surface of the pin and beyond the edges ofthe openings It so as to prevent endwise movement of the pin in the sideplates il. A slot I'I in the pin I3 serves as means to which one end ofthe band I0 may be connected. One end of the pin I3 may be provided witha hexagonal head I8 or a nick I9, or both, for engagement by a suitabletool in order to rotate the pin and thereby tighten the band I0.

A pivot pin 20 also extends through aligned openings in the side platesII and its projecting ends serve to support a pair of pawls 2I the freeends oi which are provided with an arcuate row of teeth 22 forcooperating with the ratchet teeth I5. The ends of the pawl teeth 22 arepreferably sharp for better cooperation with the sharp ratchet teeth I5,and the teeth on the two pawls are in alignment to accord with thealigned ratchet teeth. A connecting bar 23 integral with the pawls 2land extending over the upper edges of side plates II when the device isin use serves to move the pawls in unison and also serves as aconvenient means whereby the pawls may be manipulated into a positionwhere the pawl teeth 22 may cooperate with the ratchet teeth I5.Although it is not ordinarily essential, a suitably arranged spring maybe used to maintain the pawls in contact with the ratchet teeth ifdesired. The pawls 2li' and the integral connectingr bar 23 may also beformed by a punching operation.

As may be seen from Figs. 1, 4 and 5 of the drawing, when the pawls 2lare in a position to cooperate with the ratchet teeth I 5, the pawls, ortheir active teeth 22, are substantially in alignment with the pivot pin26 and the axis of the tightening pin I 3. When so constructed, thepawls may not be accidentally disengaged from the ratchet teeth I5, thusinsuring the maintenance of the tension on the securing band I when thedevice has beenv assembled and the band has been tightened by rotationof the pin I3L v,

- In: utilizing the form ci device shown in Figs. 1 to e of the drawing,one end of a securing band il) ofthe required length is bent intoaposition to form a hook 24 for engagement with the cross bar I2, or theend of the band may be attached in any other suitable manner. The bandis preferably passed twice around the hose or other article in themanner indicated inFig. 1- The opposite end of the band is then insertedin the slot Il in the tightening pin and the latter is then rotated in aclockwise directionby means of a suitable tool until the desired tensionis applied to the securing band. Reverse rotation of the tightening pinI3 will of course be pre-- vented by the pawls El. It will beunderstood, however, that the band I may be wrapped around the articlein the reverse direction from that shown in the drawing, and that may bepreferred, where the band is passed but once around the article, inorder that the opposite ends of the band may overlap and clamp thearticie throughout its circumference. v Y

,The modified form of tensioning device illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6differs from the form. shown in Figs. l to 4 in that the connecting bai'Si?, integral with the two pawls 2l is de pressed between the sideplates il and extends between the lower ends of legs 26 the upper en dsof which are connected to the pawls over the upper edges of the sideplates II.v As; shown in Fig. 5, this brings the connecting bar 275.into a position whereby the outer turn 2l ofthe band I9 may be passedthereover so as to hold the pawlns 2i in operative position with respectto the ratchet teeth I5 when the band is tightened. Such aconstructionis a further insurance againstV ac-v cidental disengagement of therpawlsfrom kthe ratchet teeth.V In this form of the tensior'iing device thepawls and the integralle'gs 26e-nd connecting bar 25 may bereadily madebywa; punching operation as in the case of the form of therdevice shownin Figs. 1 to 4.

While two specic forms of device in which the present improvement isincorporated have .been disclosed herein, it is to be understood thatthe invention is not intended to be limited to the precise structuredisclosed. The above de- .scription and the accompanying drawing aretherefore to be regarded as illustrative only, and it is to beunderstood that the invention is susceptible of other forms andarrangements so long as they come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

What I desire to claim is:

l. In a clamp of the type wherein a exlble band extending around theobject to be clamped is tensionedto tighten it, a tensioning devicecomprising 'a pair of side plates, a cross bar extending between saidside plates and serving as attaching means for one end of said band, arotatable pin mounted in said side plates and having a slot therein forreceiving the opposite end of' saidv band, Aan annular seriesoi'serr'ations integraily formed on. 'each end or' said pin outwardly ofside platesyand serving to prevent endwise movement of said pin in saidsideplates, a pawl pivoted at its outer endv on eachoil said sideplates, the innerendoi each'pawl being serrated and eccentric to itspivot', and engaging the serraticns on the corresponding endo said pin,and tool engaging means on one end oi said pin for rotating the same.

2. In a clamp of the type wherein a flexible. band extending around theobject to be clamped is tensioned to tightenit, a tensioning devicecomprising a pair of side plates, a cross bar extending between saidside plates and serving as attaching means for one end of said band, arotatable pin mounted in saidV side plates and having a slot therein forreceiving the opposite endvoi saidY band, an annular series ofserrations on each end of said pin outwardly of said side plates andserving to preventendwise move-- ment of said pin in said side plates, apair of pawls pivoted at their outer ends on the, outside of said sideplates, the inner end of each pawl being serrated and eccentric to itspivot, and engaging the serrations on the corresponding end of said pin,rigid means extending across said side plates and interconnecting saidpawls for movement in unison, and tool `engaging means on said pin forrot-atingthe saine.

ARCHIE EDGAR. MGELROY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in thev file ofthisv patent:

UNITED srAns PATNTS

